Legacy Connemara Ponies is located in Missouri's Ozark country which is famous for its breathtaking hills and hollows, lush woodlands, diverse wildlife, and clear flowing streams. The farm is nestled upon 65 lush acres consisting of gently rolling hills and wide open meadows surrounded by a forest of Oak, Elm, Hickory, and Cedar timber. The forest under growth is a paradise of wild ferns, and herbs which border the edge of the riding and hiking trail that stretches down through the hollow, to the creek below. The entrance of the trail begins at one end of the property and leads to the back, opening up into a large meadow which is perfect for a Saturday afternoon picnic with the ponies.
The small cozy town of Galena is approximately 30 miles north of Branson and 30 miles south of Springfield - AND - only 5 minutes from Table Rock Lake - the Bass fishing capital of the state!
Legacy Connemaras originated in central California and the farm relocated to SW Missouri in September of 2005.
Melanie 'Mel' Leigh along with her three daughters are the humans behind the Legacy name.
Prior to raising the Connemara pony, the Leigh family trained and competed thoroughbreds and warmbloods in dressage as well as hunter.
In 1996 Mel began her Connemara homework and research into the history of the Connemara pony, bloodlines, show stats, photos, farm pony videos and interviewed an abundance of Connemara pony breeders. Her entire study ran the course of over 2 & 1/2 years - prior to ever adding their first Connemara pony! This hard-core study may surprise some, but for anyone who knows Mel, they know that she never does anything just so-so.
Some may ask, "Why the switch from the large horse breeds to Connemara ponies?" The answer is long, however simply stated, the Connemara pony can offer all that a large breed of equine can offer - less the enormous height, but with MUCH added temperament.
Legacy Connemara Ponies all began with the purchase of a carefully sought after performance purebred filly named Conneleigh Raney McMor. The Legacy family has since grown, consisting of a wonderful foundation of select mares, stallions and geldings.
Today, Mel continues her on-going Connemara pony research and careful observation in breed type, bloodlines (world wide), conformation, as well as her passion for equine behavior. Both Mel and her daughter's are active members with the American Connemara Pony Society, The United States Equine Rescue League, as well as other local non-profit rescue organizations.
Together as a team, the Leigh family focuses all of their life-long experiences as well as on going research - and - "heart" into the ponies that they all treasure so dearly at Legacy.
